News

2011-08-30 11:07:20.477

Three St. Charles Students Share $1,000 Lottery Win

Three St. Charles college students and co-workers have claimed a $1,000 Missouri Lottery prize. Leigh-Anne Price of Herculaneum, Richell Miller and Tiffany Moore, both of St. Charles, were working on the evening of Aug. 25 at St. Charles Lanes, 2187 First Capitol Dr., in St. Charles. The three 20-year-olds decided to buy a Lottery ticket together.

“We just all decided to take the tips we made that day and buy a $5 scratch off,” said Price. “It’s something we do if we’re bored.”

If the bowling alley was slow before they scratched off the “$100,000 Payday Bonus” ticket, the situation changed rapidly after discovering the $1,000 prize.

“I scratched down, and I scratched across the bottom, and I found a ‘PAYDAY.’ And I just got excited,” recalled Price. “Richell scratched the back, and it was all $100 (prizes). We started screaming at the bowling alley. Yeah, people were looking at us!”

The location is a little more than a happening place to work for Price. She bowls for Lindenwood University. She called her dad and told him she could cover her books this semester.

And while they all love their job – Price called St. Charles Lanes the “best bowling alley” – they were quick to point out that the windfall would provide more than books.

“We were all like, ‘This is two weeks of work!’” explained Price. “Now we won’t have to work the next double (shift) we get asked to do.”

The three are already dreaming that the next win might be large enough to cover tuition.

Price, Miller and Moore made a trip to the St. Louis Lottery office on Aug. 29, where they got to scream again about getting Missouri Lottery T-shirts. There, Price offered a bowling adage as inspiration for other Lottery players.

“Go big or go home,” she said.

“$100,000 Payday Bonus” is a $5 ticket that officially began July 2, 2011. The game features a top prize of $100,000 and is the first Missouri Lottery Scratchers ticket to have play areas on both the front and back of the ticket.